Interviewee: Ben
Year: 2009
Website: mymindsweapon.com
MySpace: myspace.com/mymindsweapon
Label: Basick Records
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks Exclusive... So far!
It's fair to say that I've been listening to "The Carrion Sky" rather a lot since buying it at the beginning of January. It's also fair to say that I've become quite the My Minds Weapon fan in that time... so it seemed only natural to ask them a few questions...
(NOTE: You can also win yourself a copy of "The Carrion Sky". Click here for more information.)
Lou: Hi guys, thanks for agreeing to this interview! How's it goin' today?
Ben: Hello...my pleasure...I'm fine thanks
Lou: For the benefit of those who have yet to experience MMW, please can you introduce yourselves?
Ben: I'm Ben the vocalist. Also in the band are Dan - guitar, mark - guitar, Nick - drums and Scott - Bass
Lou: How long has the band been together?
Ben: We have been together since April 2003...first ever show was September of that year.
Lou: Who are your major influences?
Ben: Oh god...all kinds of stuff. Old and new...I'll name check you some I guess...Misery Signals, Textures, Meshuggah, Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, Pantera, Faith No More, Kreator, Shai Hulud, Dream Theatre, Tool, Hopesfall, Underoath, Poison The Well...just loads and loads.
Lou: How would you describe your music?
Ben: Modern Metal. Easy as that.
Lou: I love the way that your music is so intricate. There's so many different layers and so much going on! Was it always your intention to create music like this, or was it just a happy accident?
Ben: I guess it was an accident because we just wanted to create music that has all the elements that we like in various different ways. We dont want the song to suffer to show technical we can be and also dont want the playing to be too boring and straightforward...there are bands that are way more technical than we are but have no songs you know. Its about finding a good balance and also letting your influences shine through.
Lou: Which song from "The Carrion Sky" means the most to you and why?
Ben: To me personally? Thats hard. I mean lyrically they all mean alot to me because I write the lyrics. I would say that "At Least You're Not Dead" means the most to me at the moment. Also, musically it is my favorite of our songs.
Lou: How was the album written? Was it the result of numerous jam sessions, or did one of you have an idea and then the rest of you build on it?
Ben: Dan writes the music and I wrote the words and we put em together and the rest of the band help with arrangents and tweaks.
Lou: Is there anything about the album that you'd want to change?
Ben: To be honest I think we would have taken more time over some things. I definitely would like to have a better time recording the vocals. It was stressful as I was having trouble pulling out my best that I know I was capable of at the time of recording. Apart from that I think we are proud of it...very proud actually. We did the best we could at the time and no one didnt pull their weight. We worked real fucking hard on the album.
Lou: Which song from the album has been the most popular with your fans?
Ben: Hmmm...thats a tough one actually. I think it would be "lucky like kokura"
Lou: Since buying "The Carrion Sky" I've become a bit of a fan of MMW (well, a lot of a fan really!) and I was wondering if there was any other MMW merchandise available?
Ben: Go on the myspace and order through the big cartel or actually just message us on myspace after seeing what you like on there.
Lou: Do you have any plans to work on a new album? (I know "The Carrion Sky" was only released in June, but I'm impatient! haha)
Ben: Hahahaha...thats cool you are so into getting more from us. Yeah...we are writing the next one at the moment. We are only a couple of songs in but its getting there...slowly.
Lou: You've toured with some pretty impressive names already (As I Lay Dying, Caliban, Misery Signals, Bleeding Through, etc), is there anyone else that you're itching to tour with?
Ben: Oh man...How long do you have hahaha? I think Metallica is an obvious one huh? They are just gods and so influential. I think id like to tour with Story Of The year or Everytime I die...both fun bands.
Lou: Which tour was the most exciting so far?
Ben: We toured in November of 2007 with a band from Manchester called Blueprint To A Downfall from Manchester. They are no longer together sadly but they are great dudes and we love em. That tour was MENTAL. We were shooting fireworks at each others vans, Getting wasted all the time, Stealing from everywhere, fighting, vandalising property...We were basically just being total idiots but we really bonded with them and they will be friends way beyond the lifetime of both our bands.
Lou: What has been the best show of your career so far?
Ben: Wow...erm...thats a hard question...I don't think I can answer that if I'm honest.
Lou: Have you experienced any embarrassing moments onstage? ...And would you care to share them with the readers of Loucifer Speaks?
Ben: Yes. One time in Glasgow, the band started and I hadnt sang a word yet but I jumped on a monitor and the monitor toppled and i fell offstage and landed on a photographer who was below me. It was awful. A girl I was trying to gain the interest of was there and saw the whole thing as well as all the bands we were playing with. So embarrassing!
Lou: Do you have any London gigs coming up? Just let me know and I'll be there...
Ben: We should do in the summer. That would be good to meet you.
Lou: I found out about you through Basick Records. How did that deal come about?
Ben: We were recording our album for another label at the time and then I got a call in the studio telling me that the label had gone bust. We continued recording with the idea of using the album to shop around to other labels. When Basick heard that we hadnt got a deal and that Weller Hill were mixing they were interested. They had been sent a self released ep from us before so they were aware of what we were about etc. They came to see us play in london and were impressed enough and we had a meeting in the back of the weapon van and signed the contract there. We are very very proud of our label and love them to bits.
Lou: Would you ever put a cover version on an album, or into your live set list? If so, which song would you cover and why?
Ben: We have been covering "Mouth For War" by Pantera lately. We all worship them and figured that was the best song for us to do to be honest. I think we do it pretty cool. We would never record a cover though by Pantera...why try and top perfection you know?
Lou: What does 2009 hold in store for My Minds Weapon?
Ben: Touring more! We really have to get to Europe as our album was out there November 2008. Writing album number two as well. All that and just have some fun.